Eighteenth century London. The world of art is on the brink of transformation, about to spread from the drawing rooms of the rich to public houses across the country. Compressing the events of ten tumultuous years into a single night, Nick Dear uncovers the hidden world of seminal artist William Hogarth. 'The Art of Success' is a raucous play with resonant debates about gender, sex, hedonism in the face of censorship and the responsibility of the artist. It was first performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company at The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon, in July 1986.